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I am writing in response to Robert Hoffman’s Aug. 28 submission of Rep. James Comer’s letter to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability from Aug. 16. Mr. Hoffman was negligent by submitting this letter, showed a lack of ability to fact-check and research, and exhibited 21st-century McCarthyism. This is not something we should let slip past us.

Representative Comer’s letter accuses Gov. Tim Walz of having ulterior motives as a vice presidential pick based on his travels to and work as an educator in the People’s Republic of China (PCR). So, let’s break down Governor Walz’s history with China.

Governor Walz first went to China in 1989 to teach English and U.S. history through Harvard’s WorldTeach program; this happened to be the year of the Tiananmen Square incident. Haven’t heard of this historical event until recently? You’re not the only one. Here’s the TLDR: China saw a 10-year economic boom that, while benefiting many, was accompanied by price inflation and corruption by government officials. University students and others had growing concerns and began to activate politically by protesting — these were pro-democracy protests — and the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) was not having it; thus, a bloody massacre ensued (Britannica). When asked why he still went to teach in China following these events, Walz said “It was my belief at that time that diplomacy was going to happen on many levels, certainly people to people, and the opportunity to be in a Chinese high school at that critical time seemed to me to be really important … [CCP] was coming, and that’s the reason that I went” (CBS). Tim Walz went as an advocate for democracy and human rights, actively working against the CCP.

When Walz returned in 1990, he told a local newspaper that he felt the Chinese people had endured mistreatment from their government. He also realized that leading trips to China with students was of great educational value, both culturally and historically. When he began these trips he had no ambition to become a U.S. representative, let alone a governor and potentially the vice president. Have you been on one of these trips? Teachers hardly have the time and bandwidth to shower, let alone be an international super spy.

Yes, Walz has gone to China more than 30 times, but here are some more facts: He served on the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, co-authored the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests (Reuters), and met with the Dalai Lama and democracy activist Joshua Wong (NPR). If Walz did work for the CCP, he was a terrible employee. If he supported the CCP, he was a terrible advocate.

There is so much more to add to this topic, debunking and clarifying the claims of Representative Comer, that a 500-word section cannot fit. As we get closer to November, please hold yourself, others and your elected officials accountable by fact-checking and doing your research. And for the love of democracy, please do not participate in fear-mongering.

Emma Thompson
Albert Lea